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In touch

5-20-19

In touch 5-20-19

5-20-19

Good Morning and happy last Monday of school year 2018-19!!! You did it!! It's the last one!! We had an opportunity to do an activity at our last all principals meeting and I loved it. You all know I'm a very reflective, verbally processing, kind of person. So this activity was right up my alley. I would like to share what we did. Mrs. Greener (our Asst. Superintendent) had us write down a rose and a thorn from our school year. We talked about how a thorn can turn into the rose after we have gone through the trial too. Then we paired up to reflect and share our stories. My partner and I read her's, and then mine, and at the same time we both said, "this should be shared with my staff". So here it is, it's kinda sappy, but oh so true!! I have loved working alongside all of you, I have learned from you, borrowed your strengths, leaned on each other, laughed together (like Friday's assembly... ;)) and lifted each other up!! Personally, I have grown this year, and observed many of you and your growth too!! I'm excited for next year, I hope to percolate a little bit and let the major changes we endured grow a little. I'm excited for you in new teams, new kids, and new curriculum. Change is hard, and if you look back at all we needed to do, I don't think there was any major change a school can undertake that we didn't do this year..... But we are better for it, and for our students!! Here's to one last full week!! May you choose to dance with the kids this week! - hugs, Corynn



Rose and Thorn Reflection

My rose and thorn story for this year----

"My thorn was the changes that needed to be made to help students, and staff. They were really hard changes, from teaching the staff and going through, what "the will of the group" means, creating 3 different school teams, and a guided coalition team, working on PLC's reflectively, working on what healthy conflict is, and then to moving teachers to new grade levels, adding the preschool, moving classrooms (whole school), to creating a new master schedule to meet the kids needs, building the RTI model, doing RTI's with data correctly, our target kids, collaboration streamlining, creating our intervention team, etc.... There was push back, tears, hard conversations, and many chat and chews. These were all very tough to go through for me, but the rose that came out of this, is that my staff is strong, resilient, relationships that grew closer, and me getting to see their strengths. I wouldn't have had a chance to see the strengths they each have if we hadn't gone through those experiences. It was a very "peel back the layers" kind of year. I grew too, I grew more compassionate toward the staff, really focusing on relationships through this, and working to listen. I learned to love them through it, and focus on seeking to understand, more that I had at any other school. I relied on people more. It felt good to help and worked alongside them to develop their leadership roles, and I gave up some of the control I thought I had to have, and we did many many things as a team. The rose is blooming and I can see great thing for next year and I'm excited!! I'm excited to see the growth they have had too. Not only for our kids, but for themselves as well. As I look back it comes to mind.... we can do hard things! We are resilient and next year we are going to be even stronger together."

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Calendar and happenings

Birthdays:

Janet Morton's May 19th- Happy Belated Birthday!!


June:

Jordan Thuerer June 14th

Julie Mattson June 14th

Ashley anderson June 19th

Eldon Darrington June 20th

Shannon Ellis June 27th

Marilyn Stewart June 28th


Calendar:

**Every Monday @ 3:00 Intervention Team Meets

**Every Thursday @ 7:55 Team Leaders Meet for short planning meeting


May:

May 20th- May 24th Extended School Fundraiser- "Got Change"

May 20-21st- Math Olympics (See Connie for times)

May 23rd 1st Grade Field Trip to Eccles, 5th Grade Field Trip to Crystal Hot Springs

May 28th- 3rd grade Field trip- Logan Lanes

May 28th- Proposed Pentathlon 4th and 5th grade time: TBD

May 28th 1:00 p.m. Talent Show till 2:30, and May 29th 9:00-10:30

May 28th- Final Walk to Dominoes Day for 1 student per class who met their reading goal.

May 29th- Classroom reading reward Dominoes Pizza - 2 classes

May 29th- 5th grade graduation 5-6 p.m.

May 30th Awards assembly 9:00-10:00 ish, Field Day after lunch till the end of the day.

May 31st - School soccer game Time: TBD- minimum day for students. Full contract day for staff.

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Business Items

** Shout out to all of you for keeping strong and REaDy!! There are treats in the faculty room to help recharge, and celebrate the great things you are all doing!! Treats can't say thank you enough for the hard year you pushed through, but you did it, and I appreciate it!!


** Were almost there with the new master schedule with the required minimum amount of time for literacy and math. We are still meeting with a few teams to work any kinks out. Thank you for your input and willingness to be open and try....

**School calendar for next year- if you are over an activity- I would like to have a master put together before we leave this school year, to help us be proactive, we can tentatively put things on the calendar to prepare for, for next year. If you are over an activity please get your calendar lists to me by Friday.

** May 22nd (this Wednesday) PLC Team time with your new teams first- then faculty meeting in the library from 3:00-3:30.

**Reminder you have 15 hours of PD to work out with your teams on how you are going to use that time to meet, go over GVC's, CFA's and core related items. On May 22nd you will meet in your new teams again and finalize your team norms, collective commitments and plan your 15 hours together base don your individual needs, and as a team. Team leader will submit this to me before the end of the school year.

**There is blue painters tape in the common supply room in the office for you to begin marking your items that will go to your next classroom.

** Please have award nominations in soon so Janet can make the certificates- look for a google form in your emails for this. Anyone can submit this.

** Class lists are coming out, I have finished 5th and 3rd grades so far, it takes about an hour per class list, sorry it's taken me longer than expected. My goal is to finish them today. I will email you the class lists from the preliminary ones your created, give your final look over, and then let me know if you need to implement your PICK 1.

**Keep going strong this week- almost pretend that this is just a "normal" school week. It helps make the time go faster, and kids stay engaged!!

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Fundraiser Update

Congratulations to the grade levels that won the Change challenge!!! Let me know this week what your kids would like to have as the change to their schedule!!


Kinder

1st

4th

Kinder and 5th


Our fundraiser is extended this week with the goal of $12 per student. We need about $6000 to operate the school for student support, academic supports, field trips, leadership, clubs, and activities for the students, and staff supports. Our GOT CHANGE collections brought in approx. $1700 so far.


Each student went home with a sign up sheet for donations, and can turn in cash, checks, and online donations. Our school web page has all the info on how to donate online too.


The top 6 classes, one from each grade level, will have a special activity at field day!!! Throwing pies at ME!! If the whole school reaches our goal of $6000, then everyone will have something special and extra at field day!!!


Thank you from the bottom of my heart, as I know many of us donate money to "things" that happen in our school that impact climate, students, clubs and activities!!

Kid Connections--

**If there are any students involved in theft, vandalism, or self/ students harm, please notify me asap. Parents need to be contacted, and I have to report it on our system. If the situations have been dealt with, just let me know, if you would like support with the situation, please let me know. So regardless- please let me know. :))


Here are students to really keep pushing and keep connecting with for the next 9 days.....


*** We have observed a little more heightened inappropriate behaviors, we are tired and maybe less patient? They are scared of the summer and their safe place being closed? They don't know what to expect for the summer and change is hard for them? It could be any of these, please remember to stay patient, stay busy in class, and love them harder!!


*Hannah, Blake, Jacob T. - need positive affirmations and positive statement said to them, guidance and talking to on difficult situations, loving guidance, help with skill building.

*Titan - reverted a little bit, needs love and hugs, is craving physical touch like holding his hand, patting him on the shoulders, back, a warm fuzzy on his head. He is craving this right now.

*Rhonda- needs hugs and to know she is loved. She is sad and craves affections. Needs time to process too.

*Jessica H.- needs support from when people are being mean, she needs leadership positions and acceptance from peers. Help set up peer play settings, lunch settings too.

Zoee --*Bradwisch- She needs to know there are adults that care.

Paul- *Norris- Notice him, notice the things he's doing, and let him know we care about him.

Katrina-- Darrington- She needs people to acknowledge her, to know she's there and she matters.

Dominic- Added back on, he's doing great with adult relationships, needs support to create kid relationships- please help guide him.

*AnnaBelle- Richards, She needs to be seen and listened too, but she will be very quiet, just a sweet "Good morning" everyday will help.

*Dalton -


*** I am going to miss these kids like crazy, and worry all summer long if they are getting enough to eat, playing enough, reading, getting a hug, laughing!! Anyone else a little hesitant to see them go for 3 months?? Maybe I'm just getting "old" but I know I'll miss them like crazy!! I do know they have families that love them too, and that makes it a little easier to see them go and I'll be so excited to see them come August 26th!

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Stay Connected.....

There are also pink cards in the faculty room to send in questions if you prefer paper and pencil method versus technology. Just get the pink card to me however works for you.

As always call, text, or email as well.

Email: corynn.arehart@besd.net
Website: www.mckinley.besd.net
Phone: 4357401315
Facebook: facebook.com/mckinleyelementary
Twitter: @corynn_arehart